By: Chinedum Ohanusi
The NFF and FIFA hostel and pitches projects, whose groundbreaking ceremonies were performed yesterday, have been described as a project, envisioned to automatically stir a turn-around of events and fortunes of Nigerian football on and off the field of play.
This assertion was made by President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Gusau during yesterday’s groundbreaking ceremony of the Nigeria-Fifa players hostel and new playing pitches, to be housed in Package B of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
Gusau said when completed and fully in use, the legacy project and its facilities, will cater for the accommodation of all the national teams, when on international duties; and the pitches, grass and artificial surfaces will as conceived sustain the grooming of talents, whilst providing the excellent work environment and other support systems, that would allow the players, coaches and other officials to give their very best during preparations for major tournaments or matches.
Performing the ceremony speaker of the house of Representatives, Taudeen Abbas notes that history was about to be made; in the sense that for the very first time, the Sports Sector in Nigeria is getting a big boost.
“This is truly a boost from FIFA and other stakeholders. Through the intervention of the NSC and of course the NFF, these very important projects were attracted to Nigeria; and I’m in no doubt that the projects that will have far reaching effects on football development in this country. It will bring a lot of savings, expenditure wise; it will also abring in a lot of revenue, and at the same time enhance efficiency in how our players are groomed, trained and how they prepare to represent Nigeria in international competitions”, the speaker remarked.
Speaking to reporters, the Chairman National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko urged the NFF to see to the timely completion of the project, put it into good use thereafter, and consider concessioning it to a competent firm, that will in-turn see to the routine maintenance of the facilities.
Johnson Fernandez, the representative of football’s world governing body (FIFA), who are the main fund providers; said the current pool of top rated Nigerian players, and the talents churned out in previous years, are guarantees that the Alhaji Gusau-led NFF Board deserves all the support they can get from the government, and football stakeholders, in and outside of Nigeria.
Other dignitaries that graced the occasion were, Chairman Senate Committee on Sports Abdul Ningi; former Sports Minister Sunday Dare; the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashiru Adewale Adeniyi; the immediate past Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shuaibu; as well as former internationals, Victor Ikpeba and Samson Siasia.
Most of the guests that attended the event, were beaming with smiles and were confident, that with such a massive two-prong project, the tone has been set for Nigeria to regain its lost glory, and begin to reign as a dominant force in African, and global football.
